Five Handy Tips for Choosing the Right Crane for Your Job

25th November 2015

If you’re in charge of a site and need to hire a crane in Brisbane for your heavy lifting and loading, you want to be sure that you choose the right one for what you need.

The type of crane you will hire is going to depend on how high you need it to reach, how much weight you need it to bear at that height, and what sort of terrain it needs to operate on. There would be no point in hiring a crane with a 50 plus metre reach for a smaller job; it would be a case of overkill. Similarly, an all-terrain crane on a relatively flat and stable site is not required.

This blog is aimed at small to medium construction projects; this is not about vessel cranes or giant telescopic cranes – although they are pretty cool.

Let’s take a look at five tips to help you make sure that you hire the right crane for the right job.

Reach

First of all, figure out the maximum height that you need your crane for, and then make sure that your crane can reach it.

This will vary from site to site. If you are constructing an off-the-plan apartment block or larger office building in Brisbane then you are going to need something that can reach the heights required. A 130 Tonne Liebherr Mobile Crane can reach heights of up to 60 meters (or just over 18 storeys) and is ideal for the bigger jobs.

If your job is a smaller residential or commercial construction then a smaller Franna crane with less reach is your best bet. You want to always have the right tool for the right job.

Capacity

The next thing that you want to figure out is how much weight you’ll need your crane to carry. Hire cranes have varied load capacities from 12 to 130 tonnes. Keep in mind that the total amount a crane can carry gets less the more its boom is extended to its full reach.

How’s the Ground?

The next thing that you need to determine is the type of terrain that your crane will be working on. While most cranes are all-terrain vehicles suited to operating on rock, gravel, dirt and other uneven and surfaces there are also smaller rough terrain models available for trickier sites.

Know Your Staff

You want to be sure that the people you have operating this equipment are appropriately qualified and capable of operating it. You’ll be dealing with some heavy loads and extreme heights, so choose staff that you have faith in.

Do Your Research

While this blog is intended as a general overview of what you need to know about crane hire, do some research yourself as well. Check out your hire company, ask your colleagues and peers and take advantage of the knowledge those in your industry have to offer.

Need More Information?

Surf City Crane is a Brisbane crane hire company. We can help you with any crane-related enquiry you may have.